Incendiary device for destroying improperly handled classified data and the like

ABSTRACT

An incendiary device for preventing adverse handling of classified material in which an incendiary container is positioned in a cylinder or the like adjacent a spring urged clamp and a firing mechanism is secured in the cylinder in alignment with the container. A splined bushing normally retains a ball to preclude the firing mechanism from being disarmed.

United States Patent 1191 Koehne, deceased et al.

[ INCENDIARY DEVICE FOR DESTROYING IMPROPERLY HANDLED CLASSIFIED DATAAND THE LIKE [76] Inventors: Frank J. Koehne, deceased, late of Wharton,N.J.; by Mildred M. Koehne, administratrix, 6 West Dewey Ave., Wharton,NJ. 07885 22 Filed: Apr. 6, 1965 21 Appl. NO.Z 446,485

52 us. c1. 102/90; 102/70 s; 109/36; 39/1 B 51 1111. c1 C06d 1/00 58Field 61 Search 102/1, 8, 65.4, 81.6, 90; 89/101; 109/33, 36; 70/67;116/105 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,153 1/1956Frieder 89/! June 17, 1975 2,763,209 9/1956 Winer 102/8 3,260,206 9/1966Beermann 102/816 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 74,641 7/1916Switzerland l02/65.4

Primary ExaminerRobert F. Stahl Arlorney, Agenl, 0r Firm-NathanEdelberg; Robert P. Gibson; A. Victor Erkkila [57] ABSTRACT Anincendiary device for preventing adverse handling of classified materialin which an incendiary container is positioned in a cylinder or the likeadjacent a spring urged clamp and a firing mechanism is secured in thecylinder in alignment with the container. A splined bushing normallyretains a ball to preclude the firing mechanism from being disarmed.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUN 1 7 m5 INVENTOR. FRANK J. KOEHNEBYA M]. X

ATTORNEY S 1 INCENDIARY DEVICE FOR DESTROYING IMPROPERLY HANDLEDCLASSIFIED DATA AND THE LIKE The invention described herein may bemanufactured and used by or for the government for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to an incendiary device, and particularlyto a device for destroying improperly handled classified data and othercombustible materials, such as fallen parachutes or the like.

Heretofore. there was no known simple device affording positiveprotection of classified data, documents, maps or the like againstimproper or unauthorized handling. For example, if a courier's attachecase were stealthily removed from his person the documents thereinbecame the unequivocal property of the taker. The resulting jeopardy tosecurity of this possibility needs no elaboration. Historical eventsverify that the danger of misused data is omnipresent notwithstandingthe manifestation of the highest possible degree of securityprecautions. Therefore, the complete protection of classified data is agoal of our security system.

Another area where security precautions are inadequate is in thedestruction of cargo or load carrying parachutes dropped behind enemylines. It was desirable to quickly destroy dropped parachutes in orderto avoid their detection by the enemy. The method generally used was toburn the parachutes by igniting them with an incendiary. The incendiarywas fired or actuated by an explosive through a delayed powder train ina timed setting. This method of firing the incendiary was often attendedby disadvantages, including premature or late firing. Premature firingcould result in damage to the load before disconnection from theparachute while late firing might permit detection by the enemy beforethe desired destruction occurred. Ancillary to this inherent defect inthe actuating device was its complexity in construction evidenced by thenecessity of a timing device.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simplyconstructed and inexpensive incendiary device which provides effectiveand positive protection against the improper use of classified material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an incendiary devicewhich will destroy, by burning, improperly handled classified material.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an incendiaryprotective device which will destroy, by burning, load carryingparachutes upon reaching the earths surface, when tension on the shroudlines is released.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an incendiarydevice which will destroy, by burning, improperly handled classifiedmaterial or load carrying parachutes upon reaching the earth's surfaceand which cannot be deactivated after initial activation.

In accordance with this invention a tubular member is provided on itsupper end with means for attaching a document or parachute shroud linethereto. Disposed in the upper portion of the tube is a containerofincendiary material having a percussion cap integral with it forfiring the incendiary. An upwardly directed. spring urged firing pin isdisposed in the tubular member below the incendiary and its percussioncap. Releasably connected to the firing pin is a trigger member endingin a ring outside of the tubular member. A chain or rope may be attachedto the ring and firmly secured to the wall of an attache case, filingcabinet, load attached to a parachute, etc. Means is provided in thetubular member for retaining the firing pin in a safe position beforeoperation. Disposed in the lower end of the tubular member is anexpandable bushing or the like which prevents the rod and firing pinmembers from reentering the tubular member in a safe condition after anapplied tension force to the rod and firing pin has been released. Thatis, once the device has been activated by someone improperly handlingclassified material or when a load bearing parachute has reached theearths surface it cannot be deactivated and must fire the incendiary.

The invention will, however, be further understood from the followingdescription, when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and its scope is pointed out in the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, and partly incrosssection of an incendiary device for use in destroying improperlyhandled material or the like, embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the firing pin employed in theincendiary device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trigger member of FIG.1.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer tolike parts throughout the various figures and referring particularly toFIG. 1, 10 is a tubular member or casing composed of metal or any othermaterial suitable for the purpose and having its ends outwardly flangedor flared as shown at its upper end by I] and its lower end by 12.Arranged above the upper end of the tubular member 10 is a flat springclamp generally designated by the reference character 13 pivotallysupported near and spaced from its rear end by a hinge pin 14 or thelike passing through a pair of apertured ears (not shown), projectingdownwardly from a portion of the upper end flange II. The spring clamp13 is provided at its rear end with a downwardly bent extension 15arranged in proximate spaced relation with respect to the tubular member10. A helical spring 16 is disposed between the extension 15 and thetubular member 10. The ends of the spring 16 are adapted to be firmlyfixed to the inner wall of the extension 15 and the outer wall of thetubular member 10 respectively. The spring 16 urges against theextension 15 pivoting the clamp 13 about the hinge pin 14 resulting in adownwardly directed force on the clamp 13. The spring 16 is compressedby depressing the extension 15 resulting in upward pivoting of the clamp13 about the hinge pin 14. A document, parachute shroud line, etc. maybe inserted between the clamp 13 and the upper end of the tubular member10. Removal of the depressing force on the extension 15 will pivotallyrestore the clamp 13 to a position where it will engage the inserteddocument. parachute shroud line etc. and will exert a downwardlydirected force sufficient to secure the objects above mentioned to theincendiary device. A change in position of the objects secured to thedevice will tend to carry the device along with the object.

The upper flared portion II of the tubular member 10 is adapted toreceive a thin disc 17 composed of a burnable waterproof paper or thelike, The disc 17 is disposed in the tubular member 10 and at rightangles to the axis thereof and forms a continuous surface with the upperflare 11 over the upper end of the tubular member 10. The disc 17thereby provides a sealed inner chamber 18 of the tubular member 10.

Disposed in the inner chamber 18 and at right angles to the axis of thetubular member is a container 19 of an incendiary material. Thecontainer 19 has its side walls in snug engagement with the innersurface of the tubular member wall and its upper surface in registrationwith the lower surface of the disc 17. The lower portion of thecontainer 19 contains a percussion cap 20 which when struck causes theincendiary in the container 19 to ignite.

A firing pin generally indicated by the reference character 21 isenclosed within the tubular member 10 and comprises a body portion 22having an impinging or firing pin 23 arranged on the upper end thereofadapted to strike the percussion cap 20 as the firing pin 21 isreleased. A piston shaped guide member 24 is secured to the body portion22 of the firing pin 21 and adjacent to the upper end thereof and isadapted to slide freely within the chamber 18 of the tubular member 10.Surrounding the body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 and arranged withinthe chamber 18 is a helical spring 25, one end of the spring beingadapted to contact the guide member 24 while the other end thereof isadapted to seat upon a shoulder 26 provided therefor within the tubularmember 10 and formed by a circumferential indentation of the tubularmember 10. The spring is of sufficient strength to cause the percussioncap 20 to be fired by the firing pin 21 when released from a retractedposition.

The body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 has a recess 27 in its lowerend adapted to receive a metal ball 28 or the like which registers witha portion of the shoul' der 26 and a portion of the internal surface ofthe tubular member 10 to prevent an upward movement of the firing pin 21thereby rendering the device safe.

The body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 is adapted to have a freesliding movement through a reduced bore 29 provided within the tubularmember 10 by a metal bushing generally designated by the referencecharacter 30. The bushing 30 is in slideable engagement with the innersurface of the tubular member 10 and comprises two half-cylindersections integrally connected. A solid section 31 of the bushing 30comprises half of the cylindrical structure and extends from the loweredge of the recess 27 in the body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 tobelow the lower flared portion 12 of the tubular member 10. The solidsection 31 of the bushing 30 is integrally connected with a splinedsection 32 which comprises the other half of the cylindrical structureand extends from a lower portion of the shoulder 26 to below the lowerflared portion 12 of the tubular member 10. The spline 33 of the splinedsection 32 of the bushing 30 extends downwardly approxi mately one-halfthe axial length of the wall thereof and is compressed for installationof the bushing into the tubular member 10 and circumferentially expandswhen the bushing 30 is moved downwardly and out of the tubular member10. When the splined section 32 is thus expanded the bore 29 remainsunchanged but the bushing 30 will be unable to re-enter the tubularmember 10. The function of the bushing 30 will more clearly appear asthe description proceeds.

A trigger member generally designated by the reference character 34comprises a body portion 35 extend ing into the bore 29 and releasablyconnected to the body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 in the mannerillustrated in P16. 1 of the drawings. The connected, spring 25 urged,firing pin 21 and the triggering member 34, and the percussion cap 20comprise a firing assembly for the incendiary in the container 19. Thelower end of the body portion 35 of the trigger member 34 has an eye 30or some other suitable means thereon for attachment of a rope 37 or thelike thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the firing pin 21 and the trigger member 34are releasably connected together within the tubular member 10 as bymeans of a detent 38 provided on the body portion 22 of the firing pin21 and a complementary detent 39 provided on the body portion 35 of thetrigger member 34. When the body portion 22 of the firing pin 21 and thebody portion 35 of the trigger member 34 are in the bore 29 of thebushing 30, the detents 38 and 39 are held in mutual engagement bycontract with the walls of the bore 29 and will remain so engaged untila predetermined tension applied to the device is released.

The device in operation is clamped onto a document, for example, andsecured to an attache case or messengers clothing by a rope 37 tied tothe eye 36.1f the document is attempted to be improperly removed,pulling thereon will cause the trigger member 34 to move downwardlythereby imparting a downward movement to the firing pin 21 due to theinterlocking connection therebetween thus additionally compressing thespring 25 surrounding the firing pin 21 between the guide member 24thereon and the shoulder 26 within the tubular member 10. The ball 28urges against the shoulder portion 40 of the solid section 31 of thebushing 30 forcing the bushing 30 downwardly and out of the tubularmember 10 where the spline 33 of the splined portion 32 of the bushing30 expands circumferentially preventing return of the bushing 30 intothe tubular member 10. At this position the ball 28 falls away and thefiring pin 21 is free to move upwardly under the action of the spring25. When the tension on the device is released the spring 25 urges thefiring pin 21 and trigger member 34 upwardly. When the lower end 41 ofthe detent 38 moves past the upper end of the splined portion 32 of thebushing 30 and into the tubular member 10, the trigger member 34 will bereleased.

Tension of the spring 25 on the coacting inclined surface 42 provided oneach of the detents combined with entrance of the trigger mechanism 34into the tubular member 10 provides sufficient room for the triggermember 34 to become disengaged from the firing pin 21. When the firingpin 21 is released under tension of the spring 25 additional force isapplied thereto causing the impinging pin 23 to strike the percussioncap 20. When this occurs the incendiary inside the container 19 isignited thereby igniting the disc 17 and the document clamped to thedevice.

I claim:

1. An incendiary device for destroying improperly handled classifieddata and the like including a tubular member,

a spring urged clamp pivotally mounted on an upper end of said tubularmember,

a container of an incendiary disposed within the upper end portion ofsaid tubular member,

a firing assembly disposed within said tubular member,

means operatively connected to said firing assembly for actuating saidfiring assembly when a predetermined tension is applied thereto, and

means within said tubular member for preventing disarming of said firingassembly after said firing assembly has been armed.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said firing assembly includesa peripherally recessed firing pin member, said preventing meansincludes a ball engaging said recessed member, and a splined bushing ina lower end of said tubular member adjacent said ball and slidablyreceiving said firing pin member.

3. The structure in accordance with claim 1 in which a bumable sealingdisc is positioned intermediate said container and said clamp.

4. An incendiary device for destroying improperly handled classifieddata or the like including a tubular member having an inwardly directedflange,

a spring urged clamp pivotally mounted on an upper end of said tubularmember,

a bumable sealing disc closing the upper end of said tubular member,

a container of an incendiary disposed in the upper end portion of saidtubular member,

a percussion cap in said container for firing the incendiary,

a spring urged firing pin slidably arranged within said tubular member,said firing pin having laterally disposed means for receiving a balladjacent the inner wall of said tubular member below said flange to actas a safety means for said device, a trigger member slidably arrangedwithin said tubular member and releasably connected with said firingpin, a bushing slidably disposed in the lower end of said tubularmember, said bushing surrounding said firing pin and said trigger memberat the releasable connection thereof,

said bushing adapted to expand circumferentially when removed fromwithin said tubular member,

means operatively connected to the lower end of said when a tensionapplied thereto is released. 1: a w a-

1. An incendiary device for destroying improperly handled classifieddata and the like including a tubular member, a spring urged clamppivotally mounted on an upper end of said tubular member, a container ofan incendiary disposed within the upper end portion of said tubularmember, a firing assembly disposed within said tubular member, meansoperatively connected to said firing assembly for actuating said firingassembly when a predetermined tension is applied thereto, and meanswithin said tubular member for preventing disarming of said firingassembly after said firing assembly has been armed.
 2. A device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said firing assembly includes a peripherallyrecessed firing pin member, said preventing means includes a ballengaging said recessed member, and a splined bushing in a lower end ofsaid tubular member adjacent said ball and slidably receiving saidfiring pin member.
 3. The structure in accordance with claim 1 in whicha burnable sealing disc is positioned intermediate said container andsaid clamp.
 4. An incendiary device for destroying improperly handledclassified data or the like including a tubular member having aninwardly directed flange, a spring urged clamp pivotally mounted on anupper end of said tubular member, a burnable sealing disc closing theupper end of said tubular member, a container of an incendiary disposedin the upper end portion of said tubular member, a percussion cap insaid container for firing the incendiary, a spring urged firing pinslidably arranged within said tubular member, said firing pin havinglaterally disposed means for receiving a ball adjacent the inner wall ofsaid tubular member below said flange to act as a safety means for saiddeVice, a trigger member slidably arranged within said tubular memberand releasably connected with said firing pin, a bushing slidablydisposed in the lower end of said tubular member, said bushingsurrounding said firing pin and said trigger member at the releasableconnection thereof, said bushing adapted to expand circumferentiallywhen removed from within said tubular member, means operativelyconnected to the lower end of said trigger member, said means beingadapted to actuate said firing pin when a tension applied thereto isreleased.